Schumer and Higgins call for immediate halt of efforts to close Amherst Social Security office

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Apr 4th 2014 10:40 pm

Federal leaders
warn new influx of people at Buffalo office could exceed fire code occupancy
limits

Following
a call with Social Security Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin, U.S. Sen.
Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins are insisting the Social
Security Administration halt all plans to close the field office in Amherst.

"Closing
the Amherst Social Security office is quite simply a lose-lose for Western New
Yorkers," Schumer said. "First, it will make it more difficult for thousands of
seniors who depend on the Amherst office to get access to the services they
deserve. And second, what small savings might be realized from the
consolidation would have to be immediately spent modifying the Buffalo office
to meet the increased demand. The most logical and efficient choice - both for
the Social Security Administration and for Western New York seniors - is to
reverse course, and keep the Amherst office open."

"The
Social Security Administration is trying to fit a size 10 foot into a size 7
shoe, potentially violating fire codes or pushing the public out the door and
into the street to wait for service," Higgins said. He has introduced the
Social Security Administration Accountability Act, which brings transparency to
the Social Security field office closure process. "From the beginning, this
closing has been rammed through without a care or at least clear understanding
of the specialized needs of the populations served at the Amherst site or the
functionality of the Buffalo office in terms of capacity and accessibility."

Earlier
this week, the Buffalo Fire Department conducted a visual inspection of the
public waiting area at the Social Security field office in Buffalo. According
to New York state building codes, the maximum capacity of the public assembly
space is not to exceed 49 people. Currently, the waiting area reaches or
exceeds 49 visitors regularly. Walk-in traffic is expected to increase with the
consolidation of the Amherst office into the Buffalo site. The SSA may be able
to make facility changes to increase capacity, but that would require a permit,
architectural plans and review by inspectors prior to authorization.

On Jan.
14, the Social Security Administration notified employees and congressional
office of plans to close the Amherst field office on March 28. Following public
objection that this timeframe does not meet SSA's own standard for 90-day
notice, the closing date was changed to April 25. Upon closing, Amherst SSA
staff and visitors would be redirected to the Buffalo field office.

In
addition to potential code violations, the senator and congressman have fought
the closing due to serious concerns about the impact it would have on very
unique populations served at the Amherst site, particularly seniors, students
and people with disabilities. The Amherst office works closely with: People
Inc., an agency that helps to manage cases for 900 individuals with
disabilities; the University at Buffalo, whose 5,200 international students rely
on the Social Security office for necessary paperwork for on-campus employment
or obtaining a New York state driver's license; and 17 of the 36 nursing homes
in Erie County, which are located in the Town of Amherst. A person living in
Amherst taking public transit would have to take a bus, rail and walk more than
a quarter-mile to reach the Social Security office in Buffalo - a trip that
could take more than an hour one-way.

On March
4, Schumer and Higgins requested a meeting with the acting commissioner to
raise concerns about the closing of the Amherst Social Security office. After
attempts to schedule an in-person meeting fell through, the group settled on a
conference call, which took place Thursday.